Members of the Legislature's Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee are considering a pair of bills that supporters say are designed to build more confidence in Maine's election process. But opponents characterize both as potential barriers to voters that would roll back existing rights and cost the state more money. One bill would eliminate same-day voter registration and the other would require a photo ID in order to vote.

Maine consistently leads the nation in voter turnout. In 2008, it was in the top three. And even though Maine has had only two documented cases of voter fraud in the past 30 years, Republican Rep. Richard Cebra of Naples is sponsoring a bill that would require Maine voters to present photo identification as a condition of casting a ballot.

Cebra says more than half the states require some form of ID to vote. He thinks his bill would only strengthen Maine's election laws. "This bill would protect the integrity of the ballot and the rights of lawful Maine voters," he says.

Cebra pointed to a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 that upheld states' rights to pursue similar types of voting requirements. Writing the lead opinion, Justice John Paul Stevens said the risk of voter fraud is real and that it could affect the outcome of a close election. Stevens went on to say that states have a valid interest in protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

"Some people contend that the new law will disenfranchise thousands of voters, including a disproportionate number of minority, elderly and poor people," Cebra says. "Justice Stevens said the evidence didn't back up those assertions. He said the record in the case "does not prove any evidence of the burden imposed on voters who currently lack photo identification."

A coalition of groups representing elderly and low income voters, the disabled, homeless and minorities is calling on the Legislature to reject Cebra's bill--along with one that would prohibit same-day voter registration--on the grounds that it will impose barriers on those who already have difficulty accessing the polls or getting their documents in order to obtain a photo ID.

"Many of our much older citizens may not have available birth certificates," says Richard Farnsworth of the AARP of Maine. "They may have had a change in name or residence, and so they would need to take and factor all those kinds of things in; not to mention getting transportation to get to a place to do this."

And then there's the matter of cost. If Maine is anything like Indiana, imposing a photo ID requirement could cost the state as much as $10 million over several years. Ann Luther of the League of Women Voters says that's because in order to withstand a possible constitutional challenge by Mainers who do not have photo IDs, the state would have to offer them free of charge.

And Luther says there could be other costs associated with the new requirement. "In addition to offering the cost of free documents such as drivers' licenses, other states have had to launch massive and continuing voter education campaigns to make sure voters knew what the requirements were going to be when they appeared at the polls," she says. "This is in addition to the added costs of administering the requirements and staffing at the polls as well."

Cebra's effort is backed by Gov. Paul LePage and Secretary of State Charlie Summers, who suggested that the requirement could be phased in gradually and that his department could provide free photo IDs. Summers says states don't need to justify voter fraud in order to pass the photo ID requirement.

But opponents point out that such documentation is not required when one registers to vote. Nor is it a condition of absentee voting, which they say may become even more popular if the photo ID bill becomes law.

Tim Russell of Sidney says he supports the measure. Russell says he's never missed the opportunity to vote and can't understand why producing a photo ID is seen as a barrier to the process when photo IDs are required for so many other activities, "such as viewing an R-rated movie; buying certain over-the-counter cold remedies; buying cigarettes or alcohol; flying on commercial aircraft; closing on a home purchase. And the list goes on."

Eight other states require photo identification to be presented before voting. More than half of them had less than 50 percent voter turnout in the last election. Supporters of same-day voter registration say that's also why Maine should not change that long-held policy.

Prior to its adoption in 1972 Maine ranked 21st in the country in voter turnout. The only states to surpass Maine in voter turnout in 2008 were Minnesota and Wisconsin, which also have election-day voter registration.